Electric switchbox



June 16, 1942. P. (:OV ER ELECTRIC SWITCH BOX Filed Nov. '7, 1939Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED sTATss My invention relates to anadjustable switch 7 box for housing an electric switch and moreparticularly to that type adapted to be secured within the aperture of awall.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a switch boxequipped with inner and outer elements for securing the box withintheaperture of the wall.

Another object of my invention is to provide a box equipped withadjustable sides controlled by a securing means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a switch box of the abovedescribed character which is adaptable for use in connection with old aswell as new work by means of the several adjustments for various widthsof apertures or thicknesses of walls.

A special object of my invention is to provide a switch box of the abovedescribed character which is simple in construction, durable in use,

efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention illustrating the samesecured within the aperture of a wall structure.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken .on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable walls.

As illustrated in the drawing, I employ a switch box 9 of a U-shapeconfiguration and which is equipped with top, bottom and rear walls Ill,II and i2 respectively. The rear wall, adjacent its jointure with saidtop and bottom walls, is formed with upper and lower angular portions I3and M respectively which define an interior vertically disposed guidewayface I5. The box is also equipped with side walls It which are formed attheir front ends with right angularly disposed flanges defining fixedjaws I! for engagement with the outer face of a wall structure A formedwith an aperture 13 through which said box is inserted. The rear ends ofthe side walls I6 have upper and lower angle corners fitting within theangular portions I3 and It of the rear wall and between said anglecorners the rear ends of said side walls are fashioned with rightangularly disposed and inwardly extending sections I8 arranged inoverlying relation with each other and provided with registeringlongitudinally extending slots It through which extends a screw 29threaded into the rear wall I2.

Obviously, by loosening the screw 20 the side walls may be adjusted toand from each other and within the confines of the top and bottom wallsit and El and with respect to the rear wall I2. Adjacent the jaws I1,the side walls are provided on their outer faces with adjustable jaws 2|having right angularly disposed sections appressingly engaging the outerfaces of the side walls and through which extend screws 22 having headedends disposed within the box and said screws are adjustable withinelongated slots 23 formed in said side walls whereby to effectadjustment of the jaws I1 and 2| with respect to each other. The outerends of the screws 22 are provided with nuts 24 whereby to clamp thejaws 2I in fixed position with respect to the side walls IS. The top andbottom walls It and I I, at their front edges, are fashioned withlaterally and outwardly disposed bosses 25 formed with threadedapertures whereby the usual face plate may be secured thereto asindicated in dotted lines at 26. The rear wall I2 is provided with theusual knock outs 21 whereby electric conduits are introduced within thebox.

In use, the box is positioned within the aperture B of the wallstructure A and the screw 20 loosened to permit lateral adjustment ofthe side walls for engagement with the side walls defining the apertureB. When thus adjusted, the screw 20 is tightened and with the innerfaces of the jaws I'I engaging the outer face of the wall structure Aadjacent the aperture B thereof. The screws 22 are then loosened, andthe jaws 2i adjusted with respect to the side wall It to effectengagement with the inner face of the wall structure adjacent theaperture B thereby securely clamping the box to the wall structure upontightening of the screws 22.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple andelficient form of switch box wherein the same may be adjustable forinsertion within various sizes of apertures in wall structures and forclamping to said wall structures by the adjustment of the adjustablejaws with respect to the fixed jaws.

It is also obvious that the invention is not confined to the hereindescribed use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which itis adaptable. It is therefore to be distinctly understood that theinvention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated anddescribed, as the same is only illustrative of the principles ofoperation, which are capable of extended application in advance forms,and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switch box of the character described, a body section havingfixed top, bottom and rear Walls, apertured bosses formed at the forwardedges of the top and bottom walls for immovably connecting the body to abuilding wall, a pair of complementary flat side wall sections having acontour corresponding to that of the open sides of the body and slidablethere with.- in, a right angular slotted extension formed at the rearend of each side wall section, the said slotted extensions beingdisposed inoverlapping positions against the inner face of the rear wallof the body, means on the rear wall of the body 20 a body section havingfixed top, bottom and rear walls, apertured bosses formed at the forwardedges of the top and bottom walls for immovably connecting the body to abuilding wall, a pair of complementary fiat side wall sections having acontour corresponding to that of the open sides of the body and slidabletherewithin, a right angular slotted extension formed at the rear end ofeach side wall section, the said slotted extensions being disposed inoverlapping positions against the inner face of the rear wall of thebody, means on the rear wall of the body engageable with the slottedextensions for securing the extensions and the side walls in selectivelyadjusted positions, a lateral outwardly directed flange formed on thefront edge of each side wall, the said side wall sections havinglongitudinally directed slots, formed there, an angular jaw membermounted exteriorly of each side wall section having a laterally directedflange parallel with the front flange of each side wall section, andfastening elements extended through apertures in each angular jawextended through the slots in the side walls for longitudinallyadjusting the said jaws in cooperative relation with the front flangethereof for clamping the side sections on a building wall.

PETER COVER.

